... and beyond

How does calculus differ from algebra?

1 Answer

Calculus is much more complex and usually taught in late high school-expands on topics learned in algebra such as slope

Explanation:

Calculus is much more complex than algebra. In Calculus, we're introduced to the concept of the Derivative, which expands on our understanding of slope. For example:

For an algebra student, slope means rise over run, or how steep a line is. However, this definition will not do for a Calculus class.

In Calculus, slope is what defines the derivative, the rate of change of a function. With our calculus toolkit, we can find the slope of not just a linear function, but trig functions, composite functions and much more.

On top of that, depending on what we're trying to find the slope (derivative) of, there are several rules for it.

In summation, Algebra deals with relationships between numbers, whereas Calculus expands on our understanding of algebra, and is made up of some essential topics: Limits, Derivatives, and Integrals.